Preflanging mechanism for side seamed can bodies



April 24, 1956 N, GEERTSEN 2,742,872

PREF'LANGING MECHANISM FOR SIDE SEAMED CAN BODIES Filed Jan. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-$heet 1 IN V EN TOR. /1/2 50N 62239715271/ April 24, 1956 N. GEERTSEN PREFLANGING MECHANISM FOR SIDE SEAMED CAN BODI 2 Shaets-$heet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1952 1NVENT0R Maso/v ffersf/v ,forming horn or mandrel Unit States atent Ihre PREFLANGING MECHANISM FOR SIDE SEAMED CAN BODIES Nelson Geertsen, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 22, 1952, Serial No; 267,561 3 Claims. (Cl. 113 7) The present invention relates to improvements in sheet metal can or container body making machines and has particular reference to a mechanism for preHanging the end edge portion of can bodies at the side seam area especially can bodies having full lock side seams.

In the manufacture of certain kinds of sheet metal cans, for example cansV having solderless side seams, it has been found advantageous to use full lock side seams as contradistinguished from the usual lock and lap side seams. In the full lock seam the interfolded edges of the can body from which the can is made, extend all the way out to the end edges of the body. The usual full lock seam contains four thickness of body stock which, as compared with the single thickness of the remainder of the body, causes trouble in the usual Hanging of the body. During the usual Hanging operation the four thicknesses of stock at the side seam tend to spread apart or fan out through failure of the various thicknesses to take the proper curvature when the Hanging pressure yis applied to the end sections of the body. Hence a loose and leaky seam sometimes results in the Hanges and considerable diiiiculty is encountered in applying closure members to the Hanges.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of an improved preanging mechanism adapted to overcome these diiiiculties wherein the end edge portion at the side seam area of a sheet metal can body is preHanged prior to the regular Hanging of the remainder of the `body edge, the bending of the multi-thickness seam being effected progressively from the outer edge lof the body while the seam adjacent the Hange is supported, so that the various layers or thicknesses of the seam bend simultaneously and remain in Contact with each other, with the result that a tight compact flange of the required curvature throughout is produced.

Another object is the provision .of such a preHanging mechanism which may be readily incorporated in the of a conventional can body making machine so that the preHanging of the side seam area ofthe can bodies may be eifected without realignment of the side seams, thereby providing for accurate preHanging and high eficiency.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the inven* tion will be apparent as it is better understood `from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a preflanged can body produced by the mechanism of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the side seam of the can body shown in Fig. l;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged schematic views illustrating how the can body is progressively preHanged;

Fig.' 6 is a side view of a portion `ofa can body making machine illustrating principal parts of the machine at the bumping station and embodying therpreHanging tent motion by a reciprocating mechanism of the instant invention, parts being broken away;

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged part sectional and part elevational views of the mechanism shown at the right in Fig. 6; and y y l Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective View of a detailed part of the mechanism shown in Figs. v8 and A9.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a mechanism for vpre Hanging full lock side seams A (Figs. l and 2) of sheet metal tubular can bodies B. rl`he can bodies are made from Hat blanks on a conventional can body forming machine of the character disclosed in United States Patent 1,770,041 issued July 8, i930, to John F. Peters on Roll Bodymaker.

A portion of such a machine is illustrated in Fig. 6 and comprises a stationaryhorn or mandrel 11 around which the Hat blanks are formed and on which the formed bodies are supported during subsequent operations. The formed bodies are advanced along the horn 11 to the various working stations in a step-by-step or intermitfeed bar 12`carrying spaced spring held feed dogs i3 (see also Figs. 7 and 8) which engage behind the end edges of the bodies. The feed bar 12 operates in a longitudinal groove 14 formedin 4the top of the horn 11. The can bodies are brought to rest at each station for the various operations performed thereon as disclosed in the above mentioned Peters patent. These stations include the conventional notching, edging, and bumping stations. l

At the bumping station, shown in Fig. 6, the side seam hooks, formed at the edging station, are interengaged, the body expanded to proper size, and i hooks bumped together to close the body. The bumping operation is 'performed by a vertically reciprocable `bumping hammer 16. Expanding of the body to proper size is effected in the usual manner by expander wings in the horn i1 operated by a cam rod 18 located within the horn and reciprocated by an actuating lever 1,9 in time with the advancement of the can bodies along the horn in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 6. The actuating lever i9 may be operated in any suitable manner, preferably by the means disclosed in the above mentioned Peters patent.

The preflanging of the can bodies B preferably is effected while the bodies are supported on the horn 11 and after they pass through the bumpingv station. For this purpose the feed bar l2 advances a bumped can body B into a prei'langing station D (Fig. 6) disposed in spaced relation to the bumping station. At this station the can body is brought to rest with its side seam A longitudinally aligned with and above a vertically reciprocable seam support block, anvil, or member 21 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8).` The anvil '2 is mounted in a vertical slide 22'which operates in a pair of spaced and parallel side guides 23 attached to the frame of the body making machine.

The slide 22 is reciprocated in time with the travel of the can bodies along the horn 1l, in any suitable manner, such as for example by a bell crank lever 25 mounted on a pivot pin 26 carried in a boss 27 formed on one of the side guides 23. One end of the lever is pivotally secured to the slide 22 while the other end is actuated through a carn or other suitable device to move the slide up through a body clamping stroke and thence` down through a return stroke.

When the slide 22 moves through an up stroke, it forces the support block 2l against the side seam A of the can body B at rest at the preflanging station and tightly clampsv the seam against the horn 11. While the seam is thus clamped against movement the preanging of the seam, area, i. e.. the ends of the seam at the top and bottom edges of the body, is effected. For this purpose Patented Apr. 24, 19,56

. 3 the length of the support block 21 is less than the length "of 'tl'i'emsid'e'sea'r'Atlie'body, by' distance equal to the depths of the flanges `to be formed on the ends of the seam. The support block 21 is disposed in a central Alocation between the ends of the can body so that the vends of the seam to be prellanged overhang the ends of the block as best shown in Fig. 3.

'The preflanging of the body B is effected, in cooperation with the block 21 and the slide 22, by a pair of vertically disposed flange forming members, preanging punches or tools 29 (see also Fig. 9) which are located inthe horn 11 in spaced relation so that they will be Vadjacent the ends of the side seam of a body at rest at the preflanging station as shown in Fig. 7. These preiianging punches 29 preferably are rectangular in configuration as shown in Fig. 9 and operate in vertical slideways 31 formed in the lower half of the horn 11.

` "The punches 29 are adapted to be moved through a preflanging stroke and thence through a return stroke by any suitable means located inside or outside of the horn. For this purpose the upper ends of the two punches 29 preferably extend into tapered cam notches 32 formed in an extension of the can body expander bar 18 and are held in place by spring pressure. For this purpose each punch 29 houses a compression spring 33 disposed in a vertical groove 34 formed in the punches. The springs 33 are interposed between the punches 29 at the upper ends of the grooves 34 and a stationary block insert 35 disposed in the grooves 34 at the lower ends of the punches. The block inserts 35 are seated in recesses 36 formed in the bottom of the horn 11 and are secured in place by screws 37 threadedly engaged in the horn.

The lower ends of the punches 29 and the block inserts 35 are ush with or disposed slightly within the horn 11 so as to permit advancement of the can bodies B along the horn without interference. These lower ends of the punches 29 adjacent their inner or oppositely disposed faces when taken collectively, are formed with curved preanging faces 41 for engagement against the portions of the side seam A which overhang the support block 21. The curvature of each face 41 extends downwardly and away from the adjacent end of the support 21, and preferably is parabolic in form or transverse section (Figs. 3, 4, for progressive engagement with the portions of the seam area to be anged.

Hence while the side seam A of a can body is clamped by the support block 21 against the horn 11, the expander bar 18 is shifted longitudinally of the horn las shown in Fig. 8 and this causes the tapered faces of the cam notches 32 to ride over and depress the punches 29 against the resistance of their springs 33. Both punches 29 are de pressed simultaneously. This downward movement of the punches projects their lower ends below the horn 11 and into ilanging engagement with the edges of the can body at its side seam. The curved faces 41 of the punches 29 tirst engage these overhanging edge portions of the body at the extreme outer edge of the body as best shown in Fig. 4 and thus start bending these edge portions downwardly over the support block or anvil 21. By starting the bending action at the outer edge of the body a shearing action against the edge portions is eliminated and more important the different layers or thicknesses of metal in the side seam are maintained in 'contact with each other so as to preserve the original form and tightness of the seam.

As the punches 29 continue to descend, their curved faces 41 wipe against the edge portions of the seam area of the body and thus progressively bend these edge portions downwardly and inwardly against the anvil 21 to produce a preange E (Figs. 1 and 5) which extends transversely of the side seam A and projects for a short distance on both sides thereof as best shown in Fig. l. The progressive bending of this preange into shape keeps the layers of the seam together so that in the iinal flange all layers of the seam have the same curvature and the portion of the seam in the preflangc at each end of the `bdyremains` in its originalform and tightness.

Upon completion of the preflanging operation, as shown in Fig. 5, the expander bar 18 shifts through a return movement and thus returns the cam notches 32 to their original positions as shown in Fig. 7. This action permits the springs 33 to raise the plungers 29 to their original positions within the slideways 31 of the horn 11. During this action the support block 21 moves down away from the horn 11 and thus the pretlanged can body is released and completely free for discharge along the horn 11 to any suitable place of deposit.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred 'embodiment' thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can body making machine having a body supporting horn having one end fixedly mounted in a support and having its other end projecting longitudinally from said support through and beyond a side seam bumping station, the improvement which comprises the combination of an anvil disposed adjacent said horn beyond said bumping station and mounted for movement toward said horn, said anvil extending longitudinally of said horn and being movable in a plane parallel to and extending through the axis of said horn for firmly clamping the side seam of a can body against said born with the ends of said side seam extending beyond and overhanging the ends of said anvil, the portion of said horn facing said anvil being directly rigidly connected with the adjacent portions of said horn to provide a solid nonyielding backing-up surface, means disposed in said horn for feeding a can body into position between said anvil and said backing-up surface, a plunger mounted in said horn at each end of said anvil in longitudinal alignment therewith, each plunger having a preflanging face facing a said anvil end, and means disposed within said horn and extending from the fixedly mounted end of said horn through said bumping station to said plungers for forcing said plungers outwardly after said side seam has been clamped against said non-yielding backing-up surface to bring said preanging faces into engagement against the overhanging ends ot said side seam to bend said side seam ends away from said horn and around the ends of said anvil.

2. In a can body making machine having a body supporting horn having one end lixedly mounted in a support and having its other end projecting longitudinally from said support through and beyond a side seam bumping station, the improvement which comprises the combination of an anvil disposed adjacent said horn beyond said bumping station and mounted for movement toward said horn, said anvil extending longitudinally of said horn and being movable in a plane parallel to and extending through the axis of said horn for firmly clamping the side seam of a can body against said horn for the full length of said side seam with the exception of the ends of said side seam which extend beyond and overhang the ends of said anvil, the portion of said horn facing said anvil being directly rigidly connected with the adjacent portions of said horn to provide a solid non-yielding backing-up surface, means disposed in said horn for feeding a can body into position between said anvil and said backing-up surface, a slideway formed in said horn at each end of said anvil in longitudinal alignment therewith and extending substantially radially of said horn,

a plunger slidably mounted in each slideway, each plunger having a preflanging face facing a said anvil end, and means disposed within said horn and extending from the fixedly mounted end of said horn through said bumping station to said plungers for forcing said plungers outwardly after said side seam has been clamped againstV said non-yielding backing-up surface to bring said preanging faces into engagement against the overhanging ends of said Aside seam to bend said side seam ends away from said horn and around the ends of said anvil.

3. In a can body making machine having a body supporting horn having one end xedly mounted in a support and having its other end projecting longitudinally from said support through and beyond a side seam bumping station, the improvement which comprises the combination of an anvil disposed adjacent said horn beyond said bumping station and mounted for movement toward said horn, said anvil extending longitudinally of said horn and beingy movable in a plane parallel to and extending through the axis of said horn for firmly clamping the side seam of a can body against said horn for the full length of said side seam with the exception of the ends of said side seam which extend beyond and overhang the ends of said anvil, the portion of said horn facing said anvil being ydirectly rigidly connected with the adjacent portions of said horn to provide a solid non-yielding backing-up surface, means disposed in said horn for feeding a can body into position between said anvil and said backing-up surface, a slideway formed in said horn at each end of said anvil in longitudinal alignment therewith and extending substantially radially of said horn,

a plunger slidably mounted in each slideway, each plunger having a preiianging face facing a said anvil end, and a rod mounted for reciprocatory movement within said horn 'and extending from the xedly mounted end of said horn through said bumping station to said plungers, said rod having a cam face engageable against each of said plungers for forcing said plungers outwardly after said side seam has lbeen clamped against said non-yielding backingup surface to bring said preilanging faces into engagement against the overhanging ends of said side seam to bend said side seam ends away from said horn and around the ends of said anvil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 983,002 Sharp Jan. 31, 1911 1,176,370 Kruse Mar'. 21, 1916 1,206,395 Widell Nov. 28, 1916 1,227,077 Rudolphi May 22, 1917 1,234,182 Kruse July 24, 1917 1,430,743 Kruse Oct. 3, 1922 1,720,663 Burns July 16, 1929 1,750,550 Troyer Mar. 11, 1930 1,765,758 Cameron June 24, 1930 2,313,748 Hothersall Mar. 16, 1943 2,350,824 Rajo June 6, 1944 2,636,253 Rees Apr. 28, 1953 

